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Are you looking for the best place to spend summer in the Philippines? Still having a hard time in choosing where to go or what to do this summer? Well fret not, for I have the perfect solution for you. SIQUIJOR!!!
Hey wait!
Before you creep out by the mere mention of that mystical and “spooky” island in the Visayas region, let me share 25 reasons why you NEED TO GO to Siquijor this summer. After reading this list, you’ll surely be captivated by the beauty of this island of fire in the Pacific and immediately find hotel discounts to book your stay. What about those rumors about the mystery that wraps the island? Totally not true!
Ready to be mesmerized? Here goes…
#1 Visit the St. Francis de Assisi Church
The St. Francis de Assisi Church is one of the first landmark that you will see once you arrive at the port of Siquijor. This 200-year old church sits beside the church bell tower. You will also see a convent across the road.
#2 Check Out the Serene Fishing Village at Paliton Beach
The fishing village at Paliton beach is home to one of the best white sand beaches in Siqujior. It’s hard to resist jumping in the water after seeing the crystal clear waters in there. If you will swim farther and snorkel, prepare to be mesmerized by the rich marine life underneath those inviting waters.
#3 Capture Your Best Jumpshot at the Dumanjog beach
Siquijor is a small island surrounded by beautiful beaches and white sands. The Dumanhog beach is no exception. This beach is the perfect place to unwind while enjoying the crystal clear waters and powdery white sands.
#4 Enjoy the Cool Sea Breeze at the Guiwanon Spring Park
One of my favorite destinations in Siquijor is the Guiwanon Spring Park. If you need time to relax and unwind, you can head over to this park hidden within mangroves and wooden bridges. The fresh air coming from the sea will surely refresh your weary bodies.
#5 Visit the Unique Statue of Santa Rita de Cascia at the town of Maria
The Santa Maria Church is home to the unique statue of Santa Rita de Cascia. The image is worth checking out because of the scary-looking appearance of the statue. What creeps me out is the skull that rests on the saint’s hand not to mention the grim look on her face.
#6 Cliff Jump at the Salagdoong Beach Resort
One of the best things to do in Siquijor is to experience something extreme. What am I referring to? Cliff jumping! Salagdoong Beach Resort has the perfect spot for cliff jumping. Just make sure you practice extra caution when you cliff jump, ok?
please cover your ears if you don’t want to hear profanity here 😆
#7 Dance at the Salagdoong Forest Reserve
The road going to the Salagdoong Beach Resort is covered by a long stretch of a beautiful canopy of trees. The drive is so scenic that you should not miss the opportunity to conquer the Salagdoong Forest Reserve.
So make sure you make the most of it. And one thing to try is dancing like crazies underneath those greens!
#8 Visit the St. Isidore de Labrador Church (Lazi Church) and the Lazi Convent
One of the most visited churches in Siquijor is the St. Isidore de Labrador Church or simply called Lazi Church. Before heading over to the famous Cambugahay Falls, one has to pass by this 150-year old church structure. And just across the church is the Lazi Convent, both of which were declared by the National Historical Institute as a national landmark because of its religious and historical value to the country.
#9 Jump at the Cambugahay Falls and do the Tarzan Jump
When you visit the Cambugahay Falls in Siquijor, be sure to include jumping over the falls as part of your list. But when you do this, always practice extra caution since the pool waters is not that deep.
Doing the tarzan jump is also a must for the thrill seekers when going to the Cambugahay Falls in Lazi. Just grab the vine hanging on the side of the falls and do your stunts. The experts can easily maneuver tricky tarzan jumps but first-timers may find it challenging.
#10 Swim the Clear waters of Kagusuan Beach
Nestled in a secluded area at the south eastern side of Siquijor, one may find it difficult to locate the Kagusuan Beach. But when you do, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of clear blue waters that you’ll instantly jump at the sight of those hues. As for male travelers, if lucky enough, you might even find tourists that are enjoying their topless sunbathing on its shoreline. 😉
#11 Visit the Butterfly Garden
You could also include a visit the the Butterfly Garden on your list of things to do in Siquijor. Although the butterfly sanctuary is not easy to find, the view that’s waiting for you when going back and forth the area is also a sight to behold.
#12 Go Spelunking at the Cantabon Cave
Feeling a little adventurous? Try out spelunking at the Cantabon Cave in Siquijor. But before you do so, be sure to drop by the town’s office as you need to explore the cave with a licensed tour guide.
#13 Trek the Mt. Bandilaan National Park
Trekking Camp Bandilaan is also one of the activities to do in Siquijor that you should not miss. After following a trail up the mountains, you will be rewarded with a view of the whole island of Siquijor. You can take a shortcut if you don’t want to tire yourself.
#14 Enjoy a Fish Massage at the Old Balete Tree
Aside from admiring this 400-year old balete tree for its enormous size despite its eerie facade, you can also enjoy a relaxing fish spa in here.
#15 Visit the Lugnason Falls
Though not as grand as the Cambugahay Falls due to its size, you can also consider visiting the Lugnason Falls. The short trek going to the falls offers a scenic view of the forest that cradles it.
#16 Go on a Resort Hopping Spree
If you need a break from touring around the island, give yourself a one and head over to the beautiful resorts that blankets the area. Some of these resorts do not require an entrance fee while some do.
Aside from beach resorts, there are also mountain resorts in Siquijor which provides an aerial view of the island, and must-see while exploring the region.
On certain resorts, you’d be endowed with a beautiful and interesting view of the ocean, making your stay more relaxing and enjoyable.
#17 Swim, Snorkel, Freedive or Scuba Dive
And if you love the sea so much, Siquijor is your ultimate beach paradise. Whether you choose to beach bum, swim, snorkel, freedive or go scuba diving, you won’t run out of beautiful beaches to choose from when you visit Siquijor. It’s just a matter of knowing where to go in Siquijor to discover these secret spots.
#18 Go on a Road Trip
One of the best assets of Siquijor is its laid back environment. With the island’s almost empty roads, it’s the best place to go on a road trip.
Whether you ride a bicycle, motorcycle, tricycle, 4×4 or what have yous, make sure you take that cruise, enjoy and discover the beauty of Siquiijor.
#21 Capture Endless Photos
Siquijor is very scenic. This charming quaint town has a lot to offer. From pristine beaches to marvelous landscapes, one would surely leave this island with a heavy heart.
Which is why taking crazy and endless photos is forgivable. Go on, abuse that shutter button even if it meant taking photos next to carabao shit!
#21 Play with Friends Along the White Sand Beaches
From north to south, east to west, the island of Siquijor is surrounded by alluring beaches. Take time to enjoy them and do so in the company of friends. Live like a kid again and treat the beaches of Siquijor as your playground.
#19 Witness a Beautiful Sunset at San Juan
Before the day ends, be sure to head over to San Juan, just across the Capilay Spring Park, and witness the beautiful display of the sky changing hues as you wait for the sun to rest its radiance.
#22 Drink a Beer and Party All Night Long at C Zar’s Place
And if you are a partygoer or simply loves to drink good beer, you might want to head over to C Zar’s Place in Maite, San Juan. The entire town will converge in there every Fridays and you’d be surprised to see the the place packed with the locals and tourist (foreigners) both young and old enjoying the night with good booze and a live band to entertain you.
# 23 Eat Great-tasting Food
Be sure to indulge in good food while you are in Siquijor too. The best tasting ones are those seafoods that are freshly served in your plate after hauling from the fisher folk’s daily catch. Burp!
#24 Relax and Enjoy the Beach
Siquijor is the best place to be if you want to relax. With the easy going life in this island in the pacific, be sure to take a breather and simply enjoy your stay.
“Leave nothing but footprints, Take nothing but memories”
#25 Have FUN!
The best part to enjoy your trip to Siquijor is to always have fun!
My friends and I did. And because we are crazy yet wonderful travellers, here’s a preview of how we spent our time in the beautiful island called Siquijor…
Searching for the best hotel deals in Siquijor?
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If you need a siquijor tour guide and tricycle driver just contact kuya jinggoy…….09065806033…..mabait po sya at magaling mg picture…….
Is first week of June OK lng to go there?
Any place you recommend for overnight?
Earliest boat to go sa siquijor?
Thanks.
Ariel.
Nice article on Siquijor! My girlfriend and I were planning to go there next month. We can’t wait to checkout the beaches and other bodies of water. By the way is the bridge of Guiwanon Spring Park safe? It looks kinda old, so I was wondering if it is safe to walk on. And does it have a hot or cold spring? Or is that just the name of the place? Or is their spring hidden also like the ones in Hidden Valley Laguna? Thanks!
Hi Ryan, the bridge is sturdy and safe. There are even small cottages there where you can spend the night. I’m not so sure about the cold or hot spring as I failed to inquire when I visited the place. 🙂 Enjoy your trip next month!
Im in cebu, mactan and i now want to visit Siquijor after reeadin your article. do you think its easy/possible if im alone? Do you have any suggestion of where i should stay to meet nice people?
Cheers!
Hello Natacha,
Welcome to the Philippines! Glad you liked the article about Siquijor. If it is your first time in Cebu, I’d have to say that if you decide to follow the tourist trail within the city, there’s really nothing much to see after doing that. You have to travel north or south of Cebu to experience the island.
If you decide north, I would suggest riding a 4-hr bus ride and then a ferry ride to Bantayan Island. There’s also Malapascua Island. You might want to Google both places to see which one fits your taste.
But if you decide to check out Siquijor, I’d suggest a detour at Moalboal in the South, a 3-hr bus ride, if you’re into diving. That place is one of the best diving spots in the country. For upscale or resort type accommodations, check out Hale Manna Beach Resort & Coastal Gardens in White Beach. For cheap/affordable accommodations, you can head over to Panagasama Beach. There’s also a small presence of tourists there but the number isn’t that overwhelming and you could meet people there too. Then you could ride a bus to go south, in Lilo-an, Santander (probably 2hrs max) where you can ride a ferry (30-45mins) to bring you to Sibulan, Negros. From there you just need to ride a jeepney or hire a trike going to Dumaguete to take you to the port going to Siquijor. The transfer is just a 20-minute ride. By the way, Dumaguete is also a nice place to chill and relax while overlooking the sea at their boulevard. There are also a few number of expats in the area whom you might find interesting, mostly oldies though. They usually hang out at the restos at the boulevard.
If you reach Siquijor, aside from resorts, there’s JJ’s Backpacker’s Village where you can meet people too. It’s a small place so you don’t have to worry about it getting crowded.
You might want to include Apo Island on your itinerary too if you like sea turtles. – https://thetravellingfeet.com/apo-island-freediving-adventure/ It’s near Dumaguete so while you’re still there, you can check it out.
As for Cebu City, I’m not really sure of the best place to meet ‘nice people’ but there’s a pub along Escario St. called Politics. There’s usually a couchsurfing meetup every Thursdays and you might want to check out the crowd if you are still here by next Thursday. There’s also Le Village Guesthouse Hostel Bar & Restaurant along Gororde Avenue where you can meet backpackers and other tourists too.
As for your safety, you don’t have to worry about travelling alone. You can easily converse with the locals if you need assistance and although some may get shy talking to you, they can perfectly understand English and could carry a sentence or two.
P.S. When riding buses, always ride the Ceres buses – yellow colored buses. Oh, for buses going north, you should go to the North Bus Terminal and for south bound, it’s the South Bus Terminal. Cabs know where these places are.
If you need more information, like more on the adventure side, there’s tons to do in South Cebu (whale shark watching, canyoning, climbing a not so difficult peak, waterfalls chasing) don’t hesitate to ask as I’ll try to provide you the information as best as I can.
Enjoy your trip and have a safe journey!
What time of the day is thebest time to enter cantuban cave? Thanks
Summer po….kasi maganda ang panahon dito siquijor po…..
Hi, Will be there on November. What’s your recommended resort? I’m looking for the best beach and place in the area. Thanks
hi.. were planning to go to siquijor this weekend. im just wondering if u still have contacts there that we can use for tour? thanks alot
Great blog, we love it especially your video! Thank you for visiting our beloved island of Siquijor. Hope you guys can visit again to do more fun stuff. Thanks!
Kamp Aninipot
I’m visiting Siquijor in a few hours and I used this as a guide, thank you! Can you recommend any places to eat?
Thanks
Bruno
Thank you so much for all these infos. We are planning to go there next month. Would like to ask what’s the name of the resort 3rd picture at #16 entry?
Hello, it’s called the Danish Lagoon Resort. Enjoy your trip there. 🙂